Cessna 177B accident near Auburn, Indiana, August 24, 1989
On August 24, 1989 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N30806, was substantially damaged in an accident near Auburn, Indiana (Dekalb County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWERVE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE, SPEED, AND ALTITUDE ON FINAL APPROACH AND HIGH VEGETATION (TALL GRASS & BRUSH) BESIDE THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1989 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Indiana · Dekalb County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N30806 · no longer on the register · serial 17701475
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 119 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,548 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1989; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: High Flying Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SMD Ft Wayne IN at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 07C
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,650 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from FWA, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.